Beowulf passages

Lines 19-29

• He was spawned in that slime, / conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, / murderous creatures banished by God,/ punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death. The Almighty drove those demons out, and their exile was bitter, shut away from men; they split / into a thousand forms of evil…a brood forever opposing the Lord’s will, and again and again defeated.

Lines 19-29

• Who is described in lines 19-29?

• What kind of literary device is used?

• What two things are compared in the device?

Lines 79-84

• So mankind’s enemy continued his crimes, killing as often as he could, coming alone, bloodthirsty and horrible. Though he lived in Herot, when the night hid him, he never dared to touch king Hrothgar’s glorious throne, protected by God.

• What is the kenning in this passage?• How are Grendel and Hrothgar

characterized?

Lines 90-95—how is Beowulf characterized?

• In his far-off home, Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats—greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world—heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out, proclaiming that he’d go to that famous king, … now when help was needed.

Lines 184-186

• “A soldier should know the difference between words and deeds, and keep that knowledge clear in his brain.”

• Who is the speaker of these lines?

• What Anglo-Saxon value is emphasized?

Lines 228-232

• My people have said, the wisest, most knowing and best of them, that my duty was to go to the Danes’ great king. They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood.

• Who is the speaker?

• How are these lines significant?

Lines 232-238

• I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one; death was my errand and the fate they had earned.

• Who is the speaker?

• How are these lines significant?

Lines 239-245

• Grant me, then, Lord and protector of this noble place, a single request! I have come so far, oh shelterer of warriors and your people’s loved friend, that this one favor you should not refuse me—That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall.

• Who is the speaker?

Lines 245-253

• I have heard, too, that the monster’s scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I. My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against this monster.

• Who is the speaker, and how does this characterize him?

Lines 254-255 and 268

• God must decide who will be given to death’s cold grip….Fate will unwind as it must!

• Who is the speaker?

• What religious perspectives are presented in this quote?

Lines 309, 344

• That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime…the Almighty’s enemy

• Who is described?

• What literary device is used?

Lines 361-367

• …that sin-stained demon had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal man’s blade. And yet his time had come, his days were over, his death near; down to hell he would go, swept groaning and helpless to the waiting hands of still worse fiends.

• Who is described? How does this serve as characterization?

Lines 368-370

• Now he discovered—once the afflictor of men, tormentor of their days—what it meant to feud with Almighty God.

• Who is referred to by “he” ?

• Who is connected with “Almighty God” ?

Lines 386-388

• He was happy, now, with that night’s fierce work; the Danes had been served as he’d boasted he’d serve them….

• Who is described?

• What Anglo-Saxon value is emphasized?

Lines 457-464

• But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped back into battle. He tossed his sword aside, angry; the steel-edged blade lay where he’d dropped it. If weapons were useless he’d use his hands, the strength in his fingers. So fame comes to the men who mean to win it and care about nothing else!

• What Anglo-Saxon values are enforced?

Lines 512-516

• But Beowulf repaid him for those visits, found him lying dead in his corner, armless, exactly as that fierce fighter had sent him out from Herot, then struck off his head with a single swift blow.

• Who is “him” ?

• What are “those visits” ?

Lines 721-732

• That noble prince would end his days on earth, soon, would leave this brief life, but would take the dragon with him, tear it from the heaped-up treasure it had guarded so long. And he’d go to it alone, scorning to lead soldiers against such an enemy: he saw nothing to fear, thought nothing of the beast’s claws, or wings, or flaming jaws—he had fought, before, against worse odds, had survived, been victorious, in harsher battles, beginning in Herot, Hrothgar’s unlucky hall.

• Who is described? How is he characterized?

Lines 752-760

• Wait for me close by, my friends. We shall see, soon, who will survive this bloody battle…. No one else could do what I mean to, here, no man but me could hope to defeat this monster. No one could try. And this dragon’s treasure…will be mine or war will sweep me to a bitter death!

• Who is the speaker? How is he characterized?

Lines 819-824

• None of his comrades came to him, helped him, his brave and noble followers; they ran for their lives, fled deep in a wood. And only one of them remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, as a good man must, what kinship should mean.

• Who is the “one of them” who “remained”?

Lines 825-833

• His name was Wiglaf….Watching Beowulf, he could see how his king was suffering, burning. Remembering everything his lord and cousin had given him, armor and gold and the great estates [his] family enjoyed, Wiglaf’s mind was made up; he raised his yellow shield and drew his sword….

• How is the kinship bond defined here?

Lines 854-861

• And Wiglaf, his heart heavy, uttered the kind of words his comrades deserved:

• “I remember how we sat in the mead-hall, drinking and boasting of how brave we’d be when Beowulf needed us, he who gave us these swords and armor: all of us swore to repay him, when the time came, kindness for kindness—with our lives, if he needed them.”

• What Anglo-Saxon values are described here?

Lines 861-865

• “He allowed us to join him, chose us from all his great army, thinking our boasting words had some weight, believing our promises, trusting our swords. He took us for soldiers, for men.”

• What did Beowulf believe about his warriors?

Lines 1024-1030

• “Have the brave Geats build me a tomb…here, at the water’s edge, high on this spit of land, so sailors can see this tower, and remember my name, and call it Beowulf’s tower, and boats in the darkness and mist, crossing the sea, will know it.”

• How does this characterize Beowulf?

Lines 1083-1090

• “And now the giving of swords, of golden rings and rich estates, is over, ended for you and everyone who shares your blood: when the brave Geats hear how you bolted and ran none of your race will have anything left but their lives. And death would be better for them all, and for you, than the kind of life you can lead, branded with disgrace!”

• Who is the speaker? Who is described?• What kind of punishment is described?

Lines 1123-1132

• “And then twelve of the braves Geats rode their horses around the tower, telling their sorrow, telling stories of their dead king and his greatness, his glory, praising him for heroic deeds, for a life as noble as his name. So should all men raise up words for their lords, warm with love, when their shield and protector leaves his body behind, sends his soul on high.”

• What Anglo-Saxon value is emphasized? To whom is this advice directed?